Testing for human papillomavirus (HPV) can help identify potential cases
of cervical cancer, according to a report to the National Cancer Institute.

Belgian
researchers reviewed data from 15 studies and concluded that, compared
with a repeat Pap smear, a test for HPV infection enables a more accurate
prediction of whether a woman with an equivocal cervical abnormality
found on a Pap smear is likely to develop invasive cancer.

The studies were done on women with atypical squamous cells of undetermined
significance (ASCUS), one of the most common cervical abnormalities.
This new study found that HPV testing accurately identified 84.4 percent
of women with ASCUS who had high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia
(CIN2) or worse. With CIN2,
abnormal cell growth on the surface of the cervix has the potential
to become cancerous. HPV testing accurately ruled out CIN2
or worse in 72.9 percent of women with ASCUS, according to the report.

When the Belgian researchers looked only at studies that used a recently
developed test for HPV, called the Hybrid Capture II assay, they found
that HPV testing was 94.8 percent accurate in identifying women with
CIN2 or worse and 67.3 percent accurate in ruling
out CIN2 or worse. A repeat Pap smear accurately identified 81.8 percent
of women with CIN2 or worse and was 57.6 percent accurate in ruling
out CIN2 or worse.

If
you have any intimate medical worries,don't
be shy,see a doctor.
It could save your life!